The suggestions and links to Martin Lewis and Financial Ombudsman websites are excellent advice. Both have downloadable templates and easy-to-use tools for anyone running DIY PPI mis-selling claims.

In addition, I would suggest you send £2 to Equifax or Experian and request a copy of your Statutory Credit Report ( don't be tempted by their "FREE" offers for which you will have to sign-up for a trial and ongoing monthly payments ).

You will get instant online access to your Credit Report which can help jog your memory about long-forgotten credit cards and loans.

Some of the biggest PPI mis-selling payouts I've seen have been from credit cards started as far back as the 1990s. One MBNA cardholder I know of received a settlement totalling £46,728 on a card he signed up for in 1998 - most of the settlement was actually a result of adding 15 years worth of statutory interest at 8% to his refund!

That turn2us website looks very good - that's my first job, I think. I feel rathe silly for not knowing whether it was Child benefit or Tax Credits. Is it possible that when I changed banks the info didn't get passed over and that's why? Or, as you say, maybe it's the higher tax threshold thing.

For the rest you can run your circumstances through the benefits checker at www.turn2us.org.uk. That will show you what, if anything, you are entitled to claim as a family. You'd have had to consciously opt out of Child Benefit so I don't think that was your £80/month. However, you may have initially received Child Tax Credits and the thresholds for that went down about 18 months ago.

Right, we're reviewing our finances and like many people, we've found things to be a bit grim. It's not panic stations, but it's not easy.

Firstly, we're wondering whether we might be due some PPI compensation. We've had loans in the last 7 years with Lloyds TSB and Natwest. Can anyone give me a brief idiot's guide to what I need to do to investigate this?

Secondly, I'm sure we used to get about £80 a month as some sort of child tax credit thingy after DS was born nearly 5 yrs ago. Or do I mean child benefit? What's the difference? Any ideas why we don't get it any more? ShouldI be claiming something for DD - she is 20 months.